New Delhi, Aug 27 (HS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a petition challenging Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena’s notification permitting police witnesses to record their testimonies via video conferencing directly from police stations. The bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay fixed the hearing for September 3.

The plea, filed by advocate Kapil Madan, argues that the notification violates the accused’s constitutional right to a fair trial under Article 21. According to the petition, allowing prosecution witnesses—particularly police officers—to depose from their official stations undermines judicial neutrality and safeguards of due process.

The decision of the LG, dated August 13, has already triggered a strong protest from lawyers. Since August 22, members of Delhi’s district court bar associations, under the banner of the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, have been boycotting judicial work in opposition to the move.

The Coordination Committee has also written letters to the Lieutenant Governor, Union Home Minister, Union Law & Justice Minister, and Delhi Chief Minister, objecting to the notification. The lawyers maintain that the LG’s order contradicts a July 15, 2024 circular issued by the Union Home Secretary, which explicitly barred the recording of any witness testimony from inside police stations.

With the controversy intensifying, all eyes will now be on the High Court’s September 3 hearing, where the legality of the LG’s order will be scrutinized.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar